WARNING: "Police detective" email sounds bike rally alarm

COLUMBIA, 8/3/10  (Beat Byte) -- Making the rounds among hundreds of people last week, an urgent email purportedly from a "Columbia police department detective" claims the Columbia Convention and Visitor's Bureau misrepresented the National Bikers Roundup as a "family event." 

 

The email warns instead that readers be on guard for thefts, violence, and biker-gang hooliganism.

 

"Family event?  Didn't Manson call his group 'the family?'" the email asks.   "Many of the motorcyle clubs coming to the event have been getting along for nearly a year -- up until the last two weeks.   There has been some violence between several different factions."

 

Claiming Columbia will see "the largest group ever of hardened bikers in town en-masse," some of the writer's suggestions parallel news reports. 

 

For instance, the email says, "The last location for this event experienced many motorcycle thefts -- well over 100.   If I had a motorcycle I would leave it locked the first week of August."

 

Likewise, the Columbia Tribune reported July 30,  "Columbia police have been informed that motorcycle thefts have been prevalent during past rallies.  [Public information officer Jessie] Haden said rally participants and locals could fall victim to motorcycle thefts, and police are aware that local residents will have a unique opportunity for access to thousands of potentially unattended motorcycles." 

 

Finally, the alleged police detective suggests ultra-defensive driving.  

 

"They [bikers] won't hesitate to launch a handful of ball bearings at your windshield if they think you are driving too close to their group,"  the email reads.  "Although this may be a family event, it is believed to be a mandatory ride for many established biker gangs.  If you want to get out in the middle of it because you hear nothing bad has ever happened with this group, then I encourage you to do better research."

 

Attempts to confirm the identity of the emailing Paul Revere were unsuccessful.